An Eastern Cape woman has been left “shaken and traumatised” and has been having “sleepless nights” after a guest at the hotel where she works allegedly called her by the k-word last week.
Nditsheni Singeni, 56, a general worker at The Halyards Hotel in Port Alfred, has opened a case against the guest, saying she was shocked that 24 years after the advent of democracy, racism was still alive in SA.
The mother of two said the incident took place just after 11am last Friday.
“I was cleaning in a neighbouring room when a man came down the passage swearing and speaking at the top of his voice.
“I looked at him in amazement as he went into his room and, as he passed me, he said, ‘My room is f***ing filthy, you f***ing k****r’, wagging his finger at me.
“As he came closer, I just ran the other way to my manager,” she said.
Singeni said the incident left her shaken and traumatised and she has been experiencing sleepless nights.
“I just want to look him in the eye and ask him ‘why?’
“Why does he feel it’s okay for him to speak to me like that? He has stripped me of my dignity and I am very broken about it.
“It’s shocking that in this day and age we must still be ridiculed because of our skin colour. I didn’t ask to be black, I didn’t choose to be who I am,” she said.
Singeni said when she reported the incident to her manager, the man was reprimanded and asked to leave.
The hotel’s general manager, Freddie du Preez, confirmed he was aware of the incident.
“The behaviour of the guest was completely unacceptable. We do not tolerate anybody making racial remarks, especially victimising our staff.
“The man had been very disruptive at the hotel, making a noise and smoking at our reception. But when one of our staff members reported him to us about verbally abusing her, we went to his room and asked him to leave,” he said.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said: “A case of crimen injuria has been opened for investigation, after which it will be forwarded to the senior public prosecutor.”..